News Releases

RTNDA Honors Lou Prato, Establishes Scholarship in His Name

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2001

RTNDA Honors Lou Prato,  Establishes Scholarship in His Name

WASHINGTON—Louis F. Prato, veteran journalist, director of the Penn State All-Sports Museum, and member of the Radio-Television News Directors Association Board of Directors, was honored at a reception last week in Nashville.

Prato was recognized for his many years of service to RTNDA, where he has served as treasurer since 1981. Prato will soon leave the RTNDA board but will remain on the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation Board of Trustees, where he serves as secretary.

Prato’s career has spanned more than five decades, including work as a reporter, news director, educator and consultant. He has taught at Northwestern, Wayne State, Penn State, George Mason, Duke and Wright State. His writing has been published in Communicator, American Journalism Review, Electronic Media and Channels, among others. He is also the author of The Penn State Football Encyclopedia.

Prato’s friends and colleagues have endowed an RTNDF scholarship in his name, which will offer a $1,000 tuition grant to a deserving journalism student. The recipient of the Lou Prato Scholarship will also receive an expense-paid trip to the RTNDA International Conference & Exhibition. RTNDF also provides a mentoring program for its scholarship winners, pairing them with a member of the RTNDA Board of Directors as a way to ensure a solid launch into the profession.

“We wanted to be creative in the way we thanked Lou for his enduring legacy to our organization. By establishing a scholarship in his name, and endowing it to last in perpetuity, we’ll be able to carry on Lou Prato’s special brand of dedication to the news industry,” says Loren Tobia, news director at WTVH-TV in Syracuse, NY, and RTNDA and RTNDF board member.

More than $42,000 has been pledged to fund the Lou Prato Scholarship. Contributors include:

Lou Adler, Tom Becherer, P.J. Bednarski, Tom Bier, Broadcasting & Cable, Bob Brunner, Marci Burdick, Dave Busiek, Lisa Caputo, Mike Cavender, Barbara and John Cochran, Joe Coscia, Paul Davis, Rich Eisen, David Evans, Gail Evans, Janet Evans, Robert Garcia, Rick Gevers, George Glazer, Ed and Sue Godfrey, C. Wayne Godsey, John Maxwell Hamilton, Gary Hanson, Lucy Himstedt, Jack Hogan, James M. Keelor, J. Spencer Kinard, Angie Kucharski, Jeff Marks, Gene Mater, Mary McCarthy (Square Pegs), Dean Mell, Meredith Corporation, Walker Merryman, Mark Millage, Bob Priddy, Rem Reider, Joe Rivitto, RTNDA DC Chapter, Ian Rubin, Richard Sallinger, Bob Salsberg, Larry Scharff, John Sears, John Spain, Roz Stark, Rob Sunde, Loren Tobia, Brian Trauring, Jim Willi, Gary Wordlaw, Bill Yeager and Fred Young.

RTNDA is the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTNDA represents local and network news executives in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries. 

RTNDF promotes excellence in electronic journalism through research, education and training for news professionals and journalism students. The Foundation's work is supported by contributions from foundations, corporations, RTNDA members and other individuals.

RTNDF awards 18 scholarships and six fellowship awards each year to journalism students and professionals. To learn more about RTNDF scholarships and fellowships, visit www.rtnda.org and click on Awards & Scholarships.